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PICTURES! Tree climbing with my new DIY bridge hammock.

I am spending the week with my wife at the inlaws and decided to test out my newest canopy camping setup in their old hickory tree before I go climbing with it in the forests. For the first time ever I have a picture of me rigging lines to set up camp (thanks to my beautiful wife!)

I was originally going to set up the hammock about 45 feet up but after a two hour struggle with trying to find a bomber anchor point that gave me access to the entire canopy I gave up and set up the hammock about 25 feet high.

I chose the color purple because all of the other colors weren't weird enough. I am quite psyched with my color choice!

I think I finally built the perfect hammock for my needs. My first hammock was a gathered end hammock (too unstable), then a portaledge (too heavy), and now this bridge hammock which cost me:

$11 for the ripstop nylon
$12 for the 1/2" climb spec webbing
4 hours for the cutting and sewing

I spent the night up here and it was a beautiful windless 20 degree night. The hammock is absolutely freaking amazingly comfortable and the webbing that runs along the sides makes it way easier to climb around while hanging on a line. I am considering sewing on some ends but that is just extra weight so we will see.

I hope you enjoyed the pictures! I am always looking for fellow tree climbers to join me on trips into the canopy so shoot me a message if you are in the area.

Of course, I grew up in Oklahoma. Most of the Trees we had where I lived were at most 25' tall.

Yeah - and they all lean to the north...

For those of you who haven't lived in the central US, there is a constant 'breeze' blowing out of Texas, across Oklahoma, and into Kansas. The trees and telephone poles all end up leaning to the north.

I started as a rock climber so my equipment is a bit different than a normal arborist kit. I have a huge emphasis on light weight and portability (and price!).

harness ($60-$400)
100' static rope (short for portability, usually 200')
helmet ($30-$150)
ascension system (varies greatly! I use a RADS system)
lots of webbing (as opposed to arborist lanyards)
lots of biners (you can't have to many locking biners!)
knowledge (trying to learn this from the internet will kill you)